maintain custody of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "maintain custody of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to refer to the act of keeping or holding onto something, often in relation to children or property. Example: "The court decided that she would maintain custody of the children following the divorce."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

They could vote, choose their own husbands and maintain custody of their children after a divorce.

The New York Times

In 1997, the Salvation Army hired BNY Mellon to maintain custody of securities it owned, and shortly thereafter, agreed to participate in a securities lending program.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama may want to be your friend of Facebook, but he, like every other president, wants to maintain custody of the narrative.

The New York Times

Unlike Lady Gaga, or Madonna before her, Ms. Taylor did not maintain custody of her image and her fans by mutating to give them what they wanted before they even knew they wanted it.

The New York Times

The medical examiner's office will maintain custody of the remains, though, allowing it to conduct more testing when scientific advances allow, or to honor changes in the desires of families.

The New York Times

Ray has no real choice in the matter: Davis offers him the chance to maintain custody of his son, who it seems is about to be taken away from him for good.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Moreover, we know that the Syrian regime maintains custody of these chemical weapons.

The New York Times

The Assad regime maintains custody of chemical weapons material and has the capacity "to do this with rockets".

The Guardian

"The Defense Department no longer operates detention facilities in Afghanistan nor maintains custody of any detainees," he said, adding that the government of Afghanistan will be responsible for any detention facilities.

The Guardian

"The Syrian regime maintains custody of stockpiles of chemical weapons," Rasmussen said.

Los Angeles Times

He also said the Syrian government had maintained custody of the weapons and had the rockets capable of delivering them.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain custody of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being maintained custody of, whether it's a person, object, or information. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain custody of" when you mean to express simple ownership. Custody often implies a temporary or legally defined holding, not absolute ownership.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain custody of" functions primarily as a verb phrase acting as a predicate in a sentence. It indicates the act of retaining or continuing to hold legal or physical control over someone or something. As Ludwig AI suggests, this is most often used in legal or formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "maintain custody of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, primarily found in legal and news contexts. It communicates the continuation of responsibility or control over a person, object, or information. While alternatives like "retain guardianship of" or "keep control of" exist, the phrase maintains a specific connotation related to legal or formally recognized custodial arrangements. Ensure you're using the phrase in appropriate contexts, distinguishing it from simple ownership, to preserve clarity and accuracy in your writing. Remember that the preposition must be "of", as the AI powered tool confirms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

retain guardianship of

Replaces "maintain custody" with "retain guardianship", emphasizing legal responsibility.

keep control of

Uses simpler language to express the idea of maintaining control.

hold responsibility for

Focuses on the responsibility aspect of having custody.

preserve care of

Highlights the preservation of care rather than legal ownership.

continue to have charge of

A more formal way of expressing continued responsibility.

sustain possession of

Emphasizes the sustained aspect of possession.

exercise authority over

Highlights the authority component inherent in custody.

manage care for

Focuses on the active management of care.

oversee wellbeing of

Shifts the emphasis to the wellbeing of the subject.

uphold stewardship over

Highlights the responsible stewardship aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain custody of" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain custody of" when discussing legal situations like child custody cases: "The court ruled that the mother would maintain custody of the children."

What are some alternatives to "maintain custody of"?

Alternatives include "retain guardianship of", "keep control of", or "hold responsibility for", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "maintain custody on" instead of "maintain custody of"?

No, the correct preposition is "of". "Maintain custody on" is grammatically incorrect. Use "maintain custody of" to express the correct relationship.

What's the difference between "maintain custody of" and "share custody of"?

"Maintain custody of" implies that one party retains primary or sole custody. "Share custody of" suggests that multiple parties have custody rights, often in a co-parenting situation.